SANTA CLARA, Calif.—To hear 49ers fans talk, you'd think Alex Smith was on the losing end of Sunday's 34-0 score against the New York Jets.

Smith's ho-hum outing, coupled with backup Colin Kaepernick's dazzling cameo performance, has raised the question of whether Smith's days as a starter will soon be numbered in San Francisco.

Alex Smith has been efficient running the 49ers offense this season, which is all the team is looking for out of its starting quarterback. (AP Photo)

That's highly unlikely barring either a long losing skid or an injury to Smith. His style of play, while frustrating to fans who see Randy Moss and Mario Manningham being underutilized, fits nicely in the 49ers' winning formula.

Smith didn't throw any touchdown passes against the Jets, but he didn't turn the ball over, either. It also should be noted that if Manningham doesn't allow a deep sideline throw to glance off his hand in the third quarter, Smith would have a 51-yard touchdown to his credit and his passer rating would have improved from a middling 78.1 to a strong 108.

Smith's job security will be raised at season's end—like it always seems to be—but for now he's safe.

NOTES: Second-year outside linebacker Aldon Smith was flagged for an unnecessary roughness penalty on a third-down incompletion that extended a Jets drive. Three plays later, Smith made up for it by jarring the ball from Mark Sanchez on a sack. Still, Smith's judgment has been dubious all year. He's had two run-ins with the law and has been flagged for two personnel fouls, both on third down and both resulting in his teammates remaining on the field after a tough defensive stand.